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741 Naval Air Squadron

741 Naval Air Squadron
A Fairey Swordfish, and example of the type used by 741 NAS
Active1 March 1943 - 19 March 1945
12 August 1946 – 25 November 1947[1]
Country United Kingdom
Branch Royal Navy
TypeFleet Air Arm Second Line Squadron
Role
  • Observer Training Squadron
  • Operational Flying Training Squadron
SizeSquadron
Part ofFleet Air Arm
Home stationRNAS Arbroath
RNAS St Merryn
Insignia
Identification Markings
  • A3A+ (Swordfish)
  • S2A+, S3A+ & S5A+ (Firefly & Seafire)
  • 100-111 (Seafire)
  • 204-253 (Firefly)
  • 151-153 (Harvard)
[2]
Fin Shore CodesJB (Seafire, Firefly & Harvard)
Aircraft flown
AttackFairey Swordfish
FighterFairey Firefly
Supermarine Seafire
TrainerNorth American Harvard

741 Naval Air Squadron (741 NAS) was a Fleet Air Arm (FAA) naval air squadron of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy (RN) which last disbanded during November 1947. It was initially active, between March 1943 and March 1945 as an Observer Training Squadron at HMS Condor, RNAS Arbroath, Scotland, as part of the No. 2 Observer Training School.[3] It reformed at HMS Vulture, RNAS St. Merryn, England, as an Operational Flying Training Unit in August 1946.[4]

History

Observer Training School (1943–1945)

741 Naval Air Squadron formed at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor) as an Observer Training Squadron, as part of No. 2 Observer Training School, on 1 March 1943.[3] It was equipped with Fairey Swordfish, a British biplane torpedo bomber aircraft. The squadron was tasked with training the students up to 'Wings' standard. Upon completion they were then passed them to 753 Naval Air Squadron to complete their training.[2] 741 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS Arbroath (HMS Condor), on 19 March 1945.[3]

Operational Flying Training Unit (1946–1947)

741 Naval Air Squadron reformed on 12 August 1946, at RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture), Cornwall, England, as an Operational Flying Training unit.[4] It was equipped with Fairey Firefly FR.I, a carrier-borne fighter and anti-submarine aircraft, and a few Supermarine Seafire L Mk III, a naval version of the Supermarine Spitfire adapted for operation from aircraft carriers. From January 1947 it took over the task of Operational Flying School Part II and by autumn 1947 the squadron’s role was Part II (Strike) Operational Flying Course.[2] 741 Naval Air Squadron disbanded at RNAS St Merryn (HMS Vulture) on 25 November 1947.[4]

Aircraft flown

The squadron has flown a number of different aircraft types, including:[3][4][2]

741 Naval Air Squadron operated from a couple of naval air station of the Royal Navy, in the United Kingdom:[3][4]

1943 - 1945

1946 - 1947

Commanding officers

List of commanding officers of 741 Naval Air Squadron with date of appointment: [6][2]

1943 - 1944

  • Lieutenant Commander(A) O.H. Cantrill, RNVR, from 1 March 1943
  • Lieutenant Commander(A) R. McA. Stratton, RNVR, from 17 March 1944
  • disbanded - 19 March 1945

1946 - 1947

  • Lieutenant Commander S.G. Cooper, RN, from 12 August 1946
  • Lieutenant Commander T.W. Harrington, DSC & Bar, RN, from 25 August 1947
  • disbanded - 25 November 1947

References

Citations

  1. ^ Sturtivant, Ballance 1994, p. 64.
  2. ^ a b c d e Ballance, Howard & Sturtivant 2016, p. 47.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Arbroath". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "St Merryn". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  5. ^ Thetford 1991, p. 139.
  6. ^ "741 NAS Fleet Air Arm". www.wings-aviation.ch. Retrieved 27 March 2024.

Bibliography

  • Ballance, Theo; Howard, Lee; Sturtivant, Ray (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air Britain Historians Limited. ISBN 978-0-85130-489-2.
  • Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.
  • Thetford, Owen (1991). British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, an imprint of Conway Maritime Press Ltd. ISBN 0-85177-849-6.
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